Judoka Masashi Nishiyama, who won a bronze medal in the men's 90-kg division at the 2012 London Olympics, will retire, his corporate sponsor announced Tuesday.
"I feel proud to have been able to compete against my world rivals on such a high level as the Olympics," he said in a statement released by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp.
In 2013, Nishiyama crashed out of the world championships in the second round and had surgery on his left knee the following year. In the midst of his comeback bid, Nishiyama suffered a second-round defeat at November's Kodokan Cup and failed to earn selection to Japan's team for this summer's Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
At that time, Nishiyama said he would take a step back from the front lines, but avoided saying he would retire. In London, Nishiyama, who won four straight Kodokan titles from 2008, fought back through the repechage to reach the medal podium.